The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 19 is in the rear-view mirror, but the fallout continues. Gretchen Rossi’s alleged anti-LGBTQ+ social media activity – which was collated in a thread on X, formerly Twitter in August 2023 – was called out by Tamra Judge, leaving Gretchen (initially) speechless.
In the aftermath, Gretchen and her fiancé Slade Smiley decided to have a cyber analysis report put together, in the hopes it could disprove the allegations made against Gretchen. The report also dives into conspiracy theories suggesting Tamra has a hand in running social media fan accounts which attack her fellow RHOC cast members.
After being sent the report by a third party connected to Gretchen, and reading through it thoroughly (multiple times), I can say without any prejudice that it fails to do any of the above. Here’s what I learned.
Gretchen Rossi’s cyber analysis report doesn’t prove the screenshots of her alleged anti-LGBTQ+ social media activity were manipulated or fake
Now, the specific contents of the report are listed as “confidential.” Despite me not reaching out or asking for this report, and not agreeing to any sort of contract of confidentiality, that’s something I’ll respect. But this report was sent to me with the understanding that I could discuss having seen it, so that’s what I’m going to do.
The biggest pieces of ‘evidence’ shown in this report to try and prove these screenshots were manipulated can be pulled apart by anybody with a shred of social media knowledge.
Basically, there is some suggestion that the way in which the likes are shown on the screenshots aren’t how Instagram works. I disproved this within seconds using my own personal Instagram feed. The report also suggests Gretchen would have had to have liked each of these posts before anybody else to appear as the first “like” in the screenshot. Again, this isn’t how the social media platform operates.
Finally, there’s the mention of The Wayback Machine. What the report doesn’t point out is that The Wayback Machine cannot find deleted Instagram posts due to privacy. It can only access public versions of a website, and you would need a direct URL to see a specific post.
And that’s it. The rest of the report is a hatchet job on Tamra, her controversial past when it comes to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and trying to tie her together with fan accounts. So, any success there? Also no.
Tamra Judge is attacked throughout the report with accusations and suggestions of wrongdoing, but all ‘evidence’ is entirely circumstantial
You’ve probably heard most of what is directed at Tamra in this report from RHOC fans. It’s nothing new. She is accused of running, or having a hand in running fan accounts. There’s also the suggestion of leaking information to bloggers. No actual evidence proving this is presented; it’s simply theorized because of her following certain accounts and their love for her. We saw an anonymous voice make similar claims in the RHOC finale, but without any tangible proof.
As for the account which posted the screenshots of the alleged social media activity in August 2023, it does appear as though Tamra once followed that account, but then unfollowed it after the cyber analysis team was asked to conduct a report.
The company itself I will leave nameless. It is, however, as far as I can see, not connected to the man who appeared on Slade’s podcast years back, PI Andy Kay. This was a rumor put out by Alexis Bellino, now Janssen, but it seems to be unsubstantiated. What I discovered after this though was at first a little concerning.
A member on the board for the cyber analysis company which conducted the report started working at NBCUniversal from May 2025. That’s the same month the anonymous voice had a call with some of the RHOC cast.
However, I would say this is a coincidence. I did some research into whether this individual could be connected to Gretchen or Slade, along with the unscripted, reality TV side of NBCUniversal. There is no evidence to suggest any of that.
Reality TV is dark enough without any of this drama – RHOC Season 20 needs to be a celebration
If this report is supposed to vindicate Gretchen and destroy Tamra, it fails on both counts. Gretchen and Slade should ask for a refund and move on.
Reality television has gotten to a crossroads. It can continue on down an extremely dark path which can ruin lives and destroy the confidence of those watching, or it can go back to what it should have always been – an escape from the mundane for viewers (see The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and The Real Housewives of Miami).
With RHOC Season 20 celebrating 20 years of the Real Housewives franchise, we need a celebration. I’m talking fun parties, cast trips, guest appearances from ‘All-Star’ Housewives, and light shade. Because if RHOC is to continue past the iconic age of 20, it needs to make a shift, and it needs to do it fast.
The Real Housewives of Orange County is available to stream on Peacock, or Hayu in Canada, the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – SHOULD GRETCHEN AND SLADE PUBLISH THE CYBER ANALYSIS REPORT? WHO SHOULD RETURN ALONGSIDE VICKI GUNVALSON FOR RHOC SEASON 20?
